
2024
LAKAT x LILIANNA MANAHAN
Clarence's Afternoon Walk is a collection of sneakers developed in collaboration with homegrown Filipino brand, Lakat. The heart of Lakat is sustainability, craft and ingenuity shown through the use of the pineapple. Each sneaker is made of a different part of the pineapple, creating fibers of different textures. The fibers are then hand woven on a loom showcasing weaving as a living tradition and craft.
This series was a collaboration with two other artists, Doktor Karayom and Garapata. My series features Clarence, an illustrated character I had been drawing as far back as I can remember. He is a fallen creature representing the tiny woes of everyday life that wear us out, but still manages to live another day to tell the wonderful tales of yesterday. Clarence became a beacon of hope for me as I drew him almost every day during the Covid 19 lockdowns. Illustrating him in dire yet humorous situations, and making the same strokes to form him became somewhat therapeutic. Now in 2024, Clarence still journeys through life in the ups and downs, accompanying you in this pair of sneakers, a companion as you go through the day.
This sneaker experiments with the qualities the fabric Lakat makes, forming soft sculptures reminiscent to my paper sculptures to adorn the foot and calming color ways all specially dyed for this collection. Each pair offers two ways to wear the sneaker, and a blank canvas for the wearer to personalize their shoe.
THE WUNDERVERSE : GENESIS
Sculpted Brass, Cast Silver Resin, Tyvek
The Wunderverse is Lilianna's world that speaks of beauty hope and wonder found in the
nuances of everyday life. They are illustrated through characters and experiences expressed in
dynamic forms. The show is centered around the concept of the world being pictured in its
primordial form, taking reference from dance movements, and inspired by her niece and
nephew’s instinct to dance upon hearing a catchy beat in their younger years.
The medium is the message in this show for Lilianna. The use of tyvek and sculpted metal -
both malleable but permanent, show the creation of the human experience: we are built through
several moments molded over time.
The use of the selected materials reflect Lilianna's process of using maquettes and paper to
create sketches, and how experimentation on paper can be translated into metal and other
materials in large and small formats.
THE WUNDERVERSE : GENESIS EXHIBITION DATES
February 8, 2024 - March 4, 2024
Finale Art File














THE HAPPY BIRTHDAY
MERCHICKEN SHOW!
One Off Hand Painted Porcelain
Celebrate the Merchicken!
In 2012, the Merchicken was born, a mythical creature that lived in Lilianna’s imagination, Inspired by her grandmother’s cloisonné objects where she found new details each time she looked, each unique Merchicken in this collection has a story to tell. 12 years and many iterations later, the Merchicken embarks on many new adventures as it celebrates its 12th year.
The show Happy Birthday Merchicken! Is a celebration of Lilianna’s journey as an artist and how she has grown to tell new stories, reminisce about the old, and celebrate small wins in every day life. The Merchicken makes its appearance in this collection in porcelain, a material that espouses both resilience and delicacy, forever a symbol of fine artistry.
The method in which each piece is created is a journey of story telling, each stroke of the brush encasing a thought or memory, finally sealed into permanence by the purifying flame of the kiln.
THE HAPPY BIRTHDAY MERCHICKEN SHOW! EXHIBIT DATES
May 5, 2023- May 17, 2023
Secret Fresh Gallery, RONAC Art Center


























